Protection for agency workers

Far from opposing protection for temporary and migrant workers (Minister blocks job rights bill, March 3), the government has done much to improve their rights. They are covered by anti-discrimination law and have core employment protections, including the national minimum wage, which was raised to £5.35 in October, as well as paid annual leave and rest entitlements, the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, and social-security provisions such as maternity and sick pay.

Agency workers are also likely to be the largest single group to benefit from the increase in the statutory entitlement to paid annual leave, which will rise for a full-time worker from 20 to 28 days by October 2008. We are consulting on further protections for vulnerable agency workers, including plans to inform migrant workers of their rights before they come to the UK. We are committed to tackling equal treatment issues in the EU as the best way forward, and support the principles of the draft European agency workers directive. Temporary and agency workers, such as substitute teachers and social workers, are a valued part of the UK's flexible labour market. We need to ensure they receive fair pay and working conditions, while maintaining the flexibility that makes agency work popular and creates jobs.Jim Fitzpatrick MPEmployment minister

Tony Woodley (Comment, March 5) raises many issues which the Labour party must deal with if it is to win the next election. I was particularly disappointed that the bill to give agency workers equal employment rights was talked out in the Commons on Friday. These people can be sacked at a minute's notice, or stood down with no pay, and have no grievance procedures. The agencies which employ these people make massive profits. There are thousands of local temporary workers all over the country. After 10 years of a Labour government this is a disgrace.Joe ConwayYeovil, Somerset

While acknowledging the exploitation of migrant labour and the appalling plight of sex-trafficked women and children, there is another section of the population who are, in effect, modern-day slaves - prisoners. This government and the previous Tory one have been far from negligent in their legislation when it comes to the exploitation of this captive work force. With the introduction of the incentives and earned privileges scheme and the 1991 prison rules, prisoners are now forced to work for pennies an hour or face the removal of "privileges" and docking of the "pay" that is often their only source of everyday essentials like toothpaste, stamps and phone cards. And where is the only place prisoners can spend their cash? The prison canteen/shop - the modern-day equivalent of the company store.Joe BlackCampaign Against Prison Slavery